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DENR Files Criminal Charges Over 'Vanishing Trees' In Monterrazas Project
Photo credit: The Rise of Monterrazas
The controversy in Cebu’s hills just got louder. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has taken firm, dramatic action against the Monterrazas development project in Cebu City, filing both criminal and administrative cases after what officials describe as massive, undeniable tree cutting.
During a press briefing in Quezon City, DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Enforcement Norlito Eneran confirmed that a criminal case was filed on December 3, 2025, citing a violation of Section 77 of the Forestry Code.
The reason? Numbers that don’t lie.
Back in 2022, DENR’s inventory recorded 745 trees standing proudly on the Monterrazas site. Fast forward to a recent inspection — only 11 remained.
The developer, Mont Property Group, continues to insist that no trees were cut and that only “shrubs and secondary growth” were cleared for earthworks. But DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna says the evidence paints a very different picture.
“We have satellite imagery. We have the 2022 inventory. We have field verification. The evidence is there,” Cuna said, standing firm against the company’s claims.
As if that wasn’t enough, the DENR also filed an administrative case after Monterrazas reportedly failed to comply with 10 out of 33 conditions listed in its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
The Environment Management Bureau earlier flagged the project for violating the Clean Water Act and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, even issuing a notice of violation and a stoppage order.
Inspectors also discovered that several of the 17 detention ponds meant to manage stormwater runoff were either damaged or silted — a failure that allegedly worsened flooding in communities downhill during Typhoon Tino.
Molasses Spill Case: URC Also in Hot Water
The DENR didn’t stop in Cebu. Officials also gave an update on the case against Universal Robina Corp. (URC) over the molasses wastewater spill in Negros Oriental last November — an incident that damaged marine ecosystems and disrupted local livelihoods.
A complaint was filed on November 21 for violations of the E-NIPAS Act, which carries penalties ranging from fines to up to 12 years of imprisonment. There's also a separate case pending before the Pollution Adjudication Board, with Clean Water Act fines currently being computed.
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla noted that tourism and fishing activities in affected areas have started to bounce back after storms helped dilute pollution levels.
Still, he offered a firm warning:
“We cannot afford a recurrence. We’re working with all stakeholders to ensure this never happens again.”
During a press briefing in Quezon City, DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Enforcement Norlito Eneran confirmed that a criminal case was filed on December 3, 2025, citing a violation of Section 77 of the Forestry Code.
The reason? Numbers that don’t lie.
Back in 2022, DENR’s inventory recorded 745 trees standing proudly on the Monterrazas site. Fast forward to a recent inspection — only 11 remained.
The developer, Mont Property Group, continues to insist that no trees were cut and that only “shrubs and secondary growth” were cleared for earthworks. But DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna says the evidence paints a very different picture.
“We have satellite imagery. We have the 2022 inventory. We have field verification. The evidence is there,” Cuna said, standing firm against the company’s claims.
As if that wasn’t enough, the DENR also filed an administrative case after Monterrazas reportedly failed to comply with 10 out of 33 conditions listed in its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
The Environment Management Bureau earlier flagged the project for violating the Clean Water Act and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, even issuing a notice of violation and a stoppage order.
Inspectors also discovered that several of the 17 detention ponds meant to manage stormwater runoff were either damaged or silted — a failure that allegedly worsened flooding in communities downhill during Typhoon Tino.
Molasses Spill Case: URC Also in Hot Water
The DENR didn’t stop in Cebu. Officials also gave an update on the case against Universal Robina Corp. (URC) over the molasses wastewater spill in Negros Oriental last November — an incident that damaged marine ecosystems and disrupted local livelihoods.
A complaint was filed on November 21 for violations of the E-NIPAS Act, which carries penalties ranging from fines to up to 12 years of imprisonment. There's also a separate case pending before the Pollution Adjudication Board, with Clean Water Act fines currently being computed.
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla noted that tourism and fishing activities in affected areas have started to bounce back after storms helped dilute pollution levels.
Still, he offered a firm warning:
“We cannot afford a recurrence. We’re working with all stakeholders to ensure this never happens again.”
Dec 11, 2025
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